Buffalo Sabres enforcer John Scott was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Thursday. And teammate Patrick Kaleta's appeal to reduce his 10-game suspension was denied by league Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Scott was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing for a blindside hit to the head that leveled Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson in Buffalo's 5-2 loss a day earlier.

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Bettman issued a 17-page decision outlining why he turned down Kaleta's appeal to reduce a 10-game ban for an illegal hit to the head on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson on Oct. 10.

In supporting league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan's initial ruling, Bettman noted Kaleta was a repeat offender, having been previously suspended three times, and added that Kaleta could have avoided hitting Johnson.